Dodgers sweep Amazin's

Game 1: Sutton vs Seaver:

The Dodgers chased Seaver with 7 runs in the first two innings. Sutton took a shutout in to the 8th, but settled for a complete game, giving up 2 runs and striking out 6 Mets. Final score 9-2

Game 2: Messersmith vs. Matlack

The teams traded runs in the first two innings and then the Dodgers slowed started showing their offensive prowess as they scored 1 in the 4th, 1 in the 5th, and 2 in the 6th on their way to a 5-3 victory. Davey Lopes hits 2 HRs with 4 RBIs.

Game 3: Hooton vs Koosman

A questionable decision as LA started Burt Hooton who has spent most of his time in the bullpen this season. But with a 4 game series with the Reds coming up the Dodgers wanted to save their starting rotation. Hooton went 6 2/3 innings before leaving with an injury and a 3-2 lead. The Dodgers chalked up two more runs. The Mets made noise in the 9th as Stearns homered and Harrelson singled with two outs, but Brewer got his 5th save as Millan grounded out to end the game.

Dodgers sweep the series and improve their record to 18-12 as the Mets fall to 13-17.

--submitted by Keith MacDonald--

Dodgers sweep the Mets

Game 1: Sutton vs Seaver:

The Dodgers chased Seaver with 7 runs in the first two innings. Sutton took a shutout in to the 8th, but settled for a complete game, giving up 2 runs and striking out 6 Mets. Final score 9-2

Game 2: Messersmith vs. Matlack

The teams traded runs in the first two innings and then the Dodgers slowed started showing their offensive prowess as they scored 1 in the 4th, 1 in the 5th, and 2 in the 6th on their way to a 5-3 victory. Davey Lopes hits 2 HRs with 4 RBIs.

Game 3: Hooton vs Koosman

A questionable decision as LA started Burt Hooton who has spent most of his time in the bullpen this season. But with a 4 game series with the Reds coming up the Dodgers wanted to save their starting rotation. Hooton went 6 2/3 innings before leaving with an injury and a 3-2 lead. The Dodgers chalked up two more runs. The Mets made noise in the 9th as Stearns homered and Harrelson singled with two outs, but Brewer got his 5th save as Millan grounded out to end the game.

Dodgers sweep the series and improve their record to 18-12 as the Mets fall to 13-17. 

--
Keith MacDonald
Check out my website and blog at www.kamacdonaldphoto.com

Week # 9: Tony, Tony, Tony

Montréal Needed a sweep to keep their slim hopes alive in the National League east pennant race after getting swept themselves in their previous series vs Cincy.

Expos 4, Astros 3
Niekro vs Morton

Carl Morton nursed his 2-0 lead until the top of the 7th when the 'Stros scored two of their own to tie it.  A Tommy Helms solo shot with 1 out in the 9th put the 'Stros up 3-2.  Houston brought Fred Gladding on to close out the game.  Larry Parrish lined out to center for the first out.  Ken Singleton was called on to pinch hit for reliever Bill Atkinson.  Singleton lined one into the gap that righfielder Terry Puhl hustled to cut off.  Singleton was "busting it" all the way out of the box and tried to stretch his hit into a double.  Puhl threw a strike to Roger Metzger covering at second to get Singleton by a stride.  With 2 out and nobody on Gladding looked to be in good shape.  Dave Cash singled with 2 out.  Tim Foli was called back to the dugout and Tony Perez was called upon to pinch hit.  Gladding snuck a fastball by Perez for the first strike.  He decided to double up, but Perez was waiting.  Tony jumped on Gladding's heat and deposited it neatly into the left center pavilion for a walk off two run shot.

Expos 10, Astros 5
Richard vs Renko
In a high scoring affair the Expos managed to score 5 runs over the final 3 innings to double up the 'Stros 10-5.  Steve Renko (3-2, 4.43) went the distance and fanned 10.  Andre Dawson (3-5, 3RBI) and Gary Carter each hit homers.  Tim Foli was the only Expo, which includes Renko who tripled, to not get a hit.

Expos 4, Astros 0
Torrez vs Wilson

Astrodome fans were treated to a scoreless pitcher's duel until the top of the 9th. Both Mike Torrez and Don Wilson went 8 scoreless innings.  George Culver relieved Wilson to start the 9th and immediately found himself in big time self inflicted trouble.  With nobody out the Expos loaded the bases thanks to tow errors by Culver on comebackers.  Larry Parrish ripped one to shallow left that Bob Watson caught off of his shoestrings.  Torrez was due to bat, but everyone in the house knew he wouldn't.  Montreal decided to go to the well one more time by summoning Tony Perez to pinch hit.  "Doggie" is the personification of clutch.  When Culver got the count to 0-2 it looked like he would be the one to be clutch.  The 0-2 curveball hung over the plate like mural hanging on the wall.  Perez, turned on the "hanger" and hit a bomb off the centerfield wall.  By the time the dust had cleared Doggie was standing on second and the score was 3-0.  Montreal would score an additional run before Mike Marshall closed the game out to ensure the series sweep as the Expos moved back to .500.

Standings with 11 games left to play

Friars win basement brawl

Game 1 at San Diego,

Milt Pappas hit a homerun to help himself in a hard fought pitcher's duel in San Diego.  The tough luck loser in the game was Clay Kirby, who went the distance. Bruce Sutter came in to nail down his fifth save of the season. Cubs 2...Padres 1.

Game 2 at San Diego,

Dave Winfield smacked his 6th homerun as Steve Arlin pitched a complete game gem. Arlin allowed only one run while scattering 8 hits as he improved to 1-3.  Ray Burris got tagged with the loss to move to 1-3 also.  Padres 5.....Cubs 1.

Game 3 at Chicago,

Darrel Thomas collected 3 hits and Mike Ivie's first homerun of the year helped lead a San Diego 10 hit attack to take the series from Chicago. Padre lefty, Bob Shirley(1-2) got the win with six solid innings of work. Rollie Fingers finished the game to earn his 3rd save of the year.  Rick Reuschel evened his record at 3-3 with the loss despite striking out 11 Padre batters in 6.2 innings of work. Padres 5...Cubs 2.

--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

O's drop 2 of 3 to Twinkies

Game 1: (Bal 3, Min 0) 

Dave McNally pitched a 3-hit shutout, while Jim Perry took the loss for Minnesota. The teams traded zero's for 5 innings before Eddie Murray hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 6th to open the scoring, and McNally held serve the remainder of the game to close out the 3-0 victory. The Twins once again dropped below .500.

Game 2: (Min 4, Bal 1) 

Minnesota sent LHP Jim Kaat to the mound, opposed by RHP Dennis Martinez. The Twins took the lead in the 2nd on Harmon Killebrew's 7th bomb of the season. Despite hitting only .200, he continues to supply power for the Twinkies. Kaat gave way to Bill Campbell in the 7th, and he pitched 3 scoreless innings (with 6 K's) to earn his 6th save.

Game 3: (Min 5, Bal 1) 

Scott McGregor made his 1st start of the year for Baltimore, while Dave Goltz (who sported nearly a 7.00 ERA at game time) tried to get untracked for the Twins. Larry Hisle staked the Twins to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st with his 3rd homer, and the game remained a 2-0 affair until Brooks Robinson brought the O's within 1 with a solo shot in the bottom of the 6th. Manager Schneider gambled in the 8th, bringing in LH reliever Tom Burgmeier to face a primarily right-handed Baltimore lineup. Burgmeier was up to the task, as he pitched 2 scoreless innings to earn his 1st save. Goltz finished with one of those pitching lines you won't see often today, allowing 1 run in 6.2 with 2 BB and only 1 K.
--submitted by Bill Schneider--

Red Storm Rising

Game 1

Montreal is in a tightly contested battle for the NL East and enters the 3 game series with high hopes.  The Expos send Mike Torrez to the mound and he delivers a strong performance.  The Expos take a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning after taking advantage of 2 Tony Perez HRs.  However, the Reds version of Tony out does the Canadien version and hits a 3 run dinger to put the Reds ahead for good.  Nolan gets the Win and Sarmiento the save as the Reds hold on 4-3. 

Game 2

In game 2, Steve Rogers out pitches Ross Grimsley early and pitches strong as the Expos take a 2-1 lead into the 7th.  The Reds had a big inning and post 4 runs behind the hitting of Ken Griffey, who went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored on the day, and Bench who went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs on the day.  Tom Hall closes out the game to earn the save and Clay Carroll gets his first win of the season.

Game 3

The Expos send Stoneman to the mound to face Tom Seaver in their hopes to salvage one game from this series.  Seaver pitches 8 strong innings and Ken Griffey goes 2 for 3 with 2 walks to pace the Red offense.  Rawley Eastwick closes out the ninth for his 3rd save and Seaver wins to take his record to a perfect 5-0 on the year. 

Despite keeping the Big Red Machine from exploding, the Expos were definitely reeling after the series.  After being swept in 3 very competitive games, Expos' Manager Marc Weiss was overheard by the media congratulating the Reds on winning the "Championship".  Although a premature prediction, who can blame Marc as the loses frustratingly hurt the Expos in their dogfight race in the East.

--submitted by Steve Tate--